Alcoa Inc. (AA US) jumped 4.6 percent to $16.52 for the
biggest gain in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The largest
U.S. aluminum producer was recommended as 2011’s “top stock”
by CNBC’s “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer, who said the shares may
climb as high as $22.

Annaly Capital Management Inc. (NLY US) fell 2.9 percent,
the most since Sept. 30, to $17.35. The New York-based real
estate investment trust said it plans an offering of 75 million
shares.

Atheros Communications Inc. (ATHR US) rose 19 percent, to
$44.00, the highest price since its initial offering in February
2004. The New York Times said Qualcomm Inc. is close to buying
the Santa Clara, California-based maker of chips for use in Wi-Fi networks for $3.5 billion, or $45 a share, citing two people
with direct knowledge of the discussions.

Borders Group Inc. (BGP US) slid 13 percent to 84 cents,
the lowest price since March 2009. The second-largest U.S.
bookstore chain said General Counsel Thomas D. Carney and Chief
Information Officer D. Scott Laverty resigned as the retailer
tries to refinance debt to avoid a “liquidity shortfall.”

BP Plc (BP US) rose 2.4 percent to $46.26, the highest
since May 17. The U.K. company fighting legal claims after the
biggest oil spill in U.S. history is seen by Royal Dutch Shell
Plc as a possible merger partner, the Daily Mail newspaper said,
citing unidentified people close to the company. Separately, the
lawyer in charge of paying victims of the Gulf of Mexico
accident said about half of BP’s $20 billion fund should be
adequate to cover losses.

Home BancShares Inc. (HOMB US) had the second-biggest
decline in the Russell 2000 Index, slumping 12 percent to
$20.23. The Conway, Arkansas-based bank said fourth-quarter
earnings were reduced by at least $1.27 a share because of loan
losses. Stephens Inc. cut the stock’s rating to “equal-weight”
from “overweight.”

MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS US) rose 6.5 percent to
$13.92 for the third-biggest gain in the Standard & Poor’s 500
Index. The U.S. pay-as-you-go mobile phone company had its
share-price estimate increased to $20 from $15 at Deutsche Bank
AG and was added to the firm’s “short-term buy” list.

Molycorp Inc. (MCP US) rose 7.5 percent to $61.80, the
highest price since July 29. The owner of the world’s largest
rare-earth deposit outside of China said it may double its
planned production to help meet global demand after China cut
export quotas.

Monolithic Power Systems Inc. (MPWR US) fell 6.6 percent,
the most since Nov. 4, to $15.77. The maker of chips for liquid
crystal display screens said Rick Neely resigned as chief
financial officer to join a private company and will be
succeeded by Meera Rao.

Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI US) rose the most in
the S&P 500, jumping 9.5 percent to $33.12. The smartphone maker
spun off today from Motorola Inc. was rated “overweight” in
new coverage by Barclays Plc and “outperform” by Cowen & Co.

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (OEH US) gained 5 percent to
$13.67, the most since Dec. 2009. The manager of luxury hotels,
restaurants, tourist trains and river cruise properties was
boosted to “overweight” from “neutral” by JPMorgan Chase &
Co.

Quanta Services Inc. (PWR US) rose 4.2 percent to $20.88,
the most since May 13. The power and telecommunications
infrastructure company said its subsidiaries were awarded a
$118.5 million contract to install a fiber optic network in
Pennsylvania.

Safeway Inc. (SWY US) dropped 3.8 percent to $21.64, the
most since Dec. 2. The supermarket chain was cut to “market
perform” from “outperform” at BMO Capital Markets.

Stericycle Inc. (SRCL US) slipped 2.9 percent to $79.26,
the most since March 24. The medical waste disposal company was
cut to “underperform” from “neutral” at Bank of America
Corp.

Supervalu Inc. (SVU US) fell the most in the S&P 500,
erasing 6 percent to $9.00. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based
grocer was cut to “underweight” from “equal-weight” by
Morgan Stanley.

UQM Technologies Inc. (UQM US) rose 15 percent to $2.66 for
the second-biggest advance in the Russell 2000 Index. The maker
of electric motors has increased its productive capacity and
will provide details at an industry conference on Jan. 12.

Vulcan Materials Co. (VMC US) slipped 5.2 percent to $42.14
for the second-biggest decline in the S&P 500. The maker of
construction aggregates, asphalt mix and concrete, along with
its peer Martin Marietta Materials Inc. (MLM US), was reduced to
“neutral” from “buy” at UBS AG. Timna Tanners, the analyst,
said growing opposition to public spending on roads may hurt the
companies.